CATCH RATE AND CATCH COMPOSITION OF FISH TRAWL BASED IN SIBOLGA, NORTH SUMATERA
ABSTRACT: To obtain data and
information of fish trawl fishery performance operated in the Indian Ocean, a research
was carried out through observation on board by observers as well as port
sampling in Sibolga Fishing Port by enumerators in September 2007, with the
aimed to study the performance fish trawl fishery. These include fleet
structure, trawl net design and construction, catch, fishing trip, fishing ground,
and fishing operation. Results of research showed that there were 71 registered
fish trawlers in Sibolga Fishing Port and only 25 boats active due to
increasing of fuel price. The fleet structure offish trawler consist of boat
with size 31-114 GT which can be classified into 3 categories i.e. small (<60
GT), medium (60-150 GT), and large fish trawler (>150 GT). Design and
construction of fish trawl net indicated that fish trawl net operates in the
Indian Ocean was high opening trawl with head andground rope of 27.8-41.5 m and
29,7-45.8 m, respectively. Fishing trip generally 10-12 days with effective
days 7-9 days per trip and the number of net setting was 5-6 times each day.
The fishing grounds of fish trawl based in Sibolga were the coastal waters area
with maximum depth of 91 m. At least 40 species of fishes and shrimps
identified during research and dominant fish species was ponyfish (Leiognathus
spp.) threadfin bream (Nemipterus spp.), tall fin goatfish (Upeneus spp.), sea catfish
(Arius sp.) as well as yellow striped goatfish (Upeneus vitattus). The average
of catch of fishtrawler fleet in the year of 2007 was 249.3 kg/haul and that
number seems smaller than average of catch/haul previous years. This situation
indicates that decreasing of catch per haul of fish trawlersbased in Sibolga
continues occurring and in other hand price of fuel raises significantly so
that bigfish trawlers size 150 GT with engine power more than 600 HP are not
able to continue their fishing operation.
KEYWORDS: fish trawl, fishery,
Sibolga
Author: Agustinus Anung Widodo
and Mahiswara
Journal Code: pperikanangg110025